Saxophone key pad



,Nov. 3, 1931. E. .J. GULlCK SAXOPHONE KEY PAD Filed Oct. 6, 1950 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. GULICK, OI? ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO 0. G. CONN, LTD., OF ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA SAXOPHONE KEY PAD Application filed October 6, 1930. Serial No. 486,699.

My invention relates to Wind musical instruments, and especially tokey pads for Saxophones, and the like.

The key pad 110w in common use on saxophones and like instruments comprises a body made of felt and a cover therefor usually made ofkid leather. Both of these elements absorb moisture from the instrument interior and deterioration of the pad unit begins early on that account. The kid leather cover absorbs moistureand dries out When the 1nstrument is not in use, and the alternate moistening and drying of the pad cover causes hardening and distortion thereof, and

thereby an imperfect or leaky contact of the pad with the tone opening flange, or seat, on the instrument body results. Therefore, to insure the production of the best tones the key pad must be frequently renewed.

An object of my invention is to prov1de a key pad which is impervious to molsture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a key pad which has a moisture proof facing or cover.

A third object of the invention is to provide a moisture proof key pad Which 1s composed of the same number of parts as the conventional type of absorbent pad.

Still another object of the invention 1s to provide a key pad having a cover or fac ng which is both moisture proof and impression retaining. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a key pad having a metallic foil cover or facing which is substituted for the usual kid leather cover to excludemoisture from the felt pad body and to produce a permanent impression in the cover or facing when the key pad is pressed into engagement with the tone opening flange of the instrument.

Other and more specific objects of the invention are mentioned herein.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 illustrates the tone opening socket or flange of a saxophone body to which my improved key-pad is applied;

Fig. 2 illustrates a perspective of the pad body and cover secured thereabout;

Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective of the pad body and the cover or facing secured thereto but unfinished;

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates another modification of the invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates still another modification thereof; and

Fig. 7 illustrates the application of the pad cover or facing to the pad body by stitching.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawings.

Referring now to the details of the drawings the numeral 1 indicates a fragment of a tubular saxophone body, in cross-section, which is provided with the usual tone opening 2 which is encompassed by the usual annular flange 8 upon which the key-pad 4 is adapted to seat. The pad 1 is removably mounted in .a pad-cup or carrier 5 which is rigidly connected with the key-arm 6 which may be tiltably mounted in the instrument at 7, as is well known in the art.

The key-pad 4, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, comprises the annular felt pad body 8 and the metallic foil cover or facing 9, the latter being substantiall 1 larger in diameter than the body 8, the outer periphery 10 thereof being folded over the pad-body edge and secured about the pad body back by adhesive, or otherwise in any suitabie manner. The cover or facing 9 ma be centrally stitched to the pad body 8 at 1.1 to prevent sagging of the former in the larger sizes of pads.

A key-pad thus constructed makes a most effective and durable article, for the metallic foil cover or facing 9 not only effectually e2 cludes moisture from the felt pad body 8, but also said cover or facing readily receives and retains a permanent annular impression 12 by pressure contact with the tone opening flange 3, whereby a perfect seal is made between said cover or facing andthe toneopening flange, thereby producing the maximum quality of tone. Moreover, the cover or facing 9, being metallic, will not shrink, expand or warp, and is suflioiently tough and tenawardly extending annular flange 1 1 which engages the lower edge of the pad-cup 5 to facilitate the mounting of the pad unit within said cup.

In Fig. 4 the metallic foil cover or facing 9 is shown fully covering both pad-body 8 and the flanged ring 13, and in Fig. 5 the foil cover 9 encloses only the lower face of the pad body 8 and the flange 14; of the ring 13,

said foil having its outer periphery gripped between the pad-cup and said ring flange. In Fig. 6 the pad unit includes a fabric or cloth insert 15 which is secured about the -pad body 8 between the metallic foil cover 9 and said pad body, this unit being similar in other respects to the pad unit illustrated and described in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

I claim 1. The combination with the flanged tone opening of a wind musical instrument of the character described, of a tiltable pad carrier mounted adjacent said tone opening, a yieldable pad body mounted upon said pad car- -rier, and a facing member for said pad body,

"of said said facing member being made of non-absorbent, permanent impression retaining material and actuated into direct engagement with said tone opening flange upon actuation ad carrier.

2. A ey-pad for a wind musical instrument provided with a flanged tone opening comprising, a yieldable pad body, and a facing member for said pad body, said facing a member being made of non-absorbent, permanent impression retainingmaterial adapted to be brought into direct contact with said tone opening flange.

3. The combination with the flanged tone opening of a wind musical instrument of the character described, of a tiltable pad carrier mounted adjacent said tone opening, a yieldable pad body mounted upon said pad carrier, and a cover for said pad body, said cover being made of non-absorbent, permanent impression retaining material and folded over the edge of the pad body and upon the back thereof.

4. A key-pad for a wind musical instrument provided with a flanged tone opening comprising, a yieldable pad body, and a cover for said pad body, said cover being made of non-absorbent, permanent impression retaining material folded over the pad body edge upon the back thereof and adapted to be brought into direct contact with said tone opening flange.

5. The combination with the flanged tone opening of a wind musical instrument of the character described, of a tiltable pad carrier mounted adjacent said tone opening, a yieldable pad body mounted upon said pad carrier, and a metallic foil facing member for said pad body and secured thereto, said facing memberbeing actuated into direct engagement with said tone opening flange upon actuation of said pad carrier.

6. A key-pad for a wind musical instrument provided with a flanged tone opening comprising, a yieldable pad body, and a metallic foil facing member secured to said pad body and adapted to be brought into direct.

engagement with said tone opening flange.

7. In a key-pad for a wind musical instrument provided with a flanged tone opening, a yieldable pad body, a flanged retaining ring encompassing said pad body, and a metallic foil cover for said pad body and retainingring and adapted for direct contact with said tone opening.

8. In a key-pad for a wind musical instrument provided with a flanged tone opening, a

yieldable padbody, a flanged retaining ring encompassing said pad body, and a metallic foil cover for said pad body and retaining ring, said cover being folded about said retaining ring upon the back of said pad body and adapted for direct engagement with said tone opening flange.

EDWARD J. GULICK. 

